Chapter 85

☆ ☆ Ulfric Draven ☆ ☆ 

I nodded, "Do I sacrifice the potential betterment of our kind to regain a brother, or do I leave my brother lost and helpless for a better future, hoping that we can fight against the blood-sucking leeches another day?" She thought for a moment because I was being incredibly vague. I didn't want to divulge too much information if I didn't have to.

Beta Morgana finally said, "Of course, I would want my mate to be restored, but if I distanced myself from my situation and looked at doing good for one member of my pack rather than all werewolves, I would have to pick the many. That is indicative of a good leader." She paused again, then asked, "What is all this about? If I knew more details, I could answer better." 

I looked at her with shame-filled eyes, "I spoke to the witch Circe." Her eyes widened in further confusion. Circe was an old and powerful necromancer. Witches weren't immortal, but they still lived longer than the average humans and even us werewolves; she had to be pushing close to 90 or 100 years old already and still had several more decades to go. 

I added, "She is a witch, and she gave me 24 hours to decide whether to accept or decline her offer." Beta Morgana asked, "What was the offer?" I inhaled deeply, as I already knew the moral choice. I said, "She can restore Darius' wolf, but in return, she wants the unborn progeny child." Beta Morgana's mouth practically fell to the floor. 

I replied, "I know, I know it's bad. I shouldn't even have considered it." I think she was still in shock. Her eyes remained wide and stared off into the distance, her mouth still agape. I snapped my fingers in an attempt to break her trance. It didn't work, so I stood and walked over to her, gently shaking her shoulders and calling her name. 

She finally snapped out of it and shook her head to correct the jumbled emotions running through her head. I said, "I'm sorry, Beta Morgana; I didn't mean to burden you with this decision." She put on her best face and pushed her emotions to the wayside before saying, "No, Ulfric Draven, it's my duty. I apologize for my reaction." 

I returned to the chair behind the desk to continue our conversation. I continued, "Circe said that it didn't matter if the child was the Lycan King or the Dhampir-Were hybrid; she only cared that she possessed the child after its birth." I let out a heavy sigh, "I thought about this all evening—the different outcomes."

I continued, "This battle will come at a significant cost to our numbers, especially since they are expecting us after discovering you and Darius at the hospital, which I take full responsibility for." She nodded while she listened but didn't add to the conversation.

I said, "If we don't go through with the battle, the Dhampir-Wolf hybrid will be born. I am perfectly fine sacrificing that abomination to Circe in order to restore my brother, and we can prevent our losses and then go after the child later when they least expect it." Beta Morgana said, "Ulfric Draven, with all due respect, that's diabolical."

She added, "What would happen if you didn't get the child to her in time for whatever she has planned? If you renege on her deal, I'm sure the consequences would be far more detrimental to you and our kind." I nodded. She was right—of course she was. If I was unable to locate the child, the repercussions of her wrath could be dire. 

I let out a heavy sigh. The promise of returning my brother to his former glory became a fleeting glimpse. I responded, "Thank you for your time, Beta Morgana; again, I apologize for burdening you with this. I'm sure you want to spend some time with my brother, and I want to take a walk and do some soul-searching." 

I stood and left Beta Morgana's office to head out into the frigid temperatures outdoors. The sun beamed brightly and reflected off of the snow, initially burning my eyes. I squinted to allow them to adjust to the blinding light. The wind blew, and it felt like microscopic ice needles were stabbing into the exposed flesh of my face and hands. 

I strolled casually, allowing myself to endure the pain; I deserved it, after all. I walked toward the woods to reflect on everything before I made the phone call. I had about four more hours left. Beta Morgana was right; if I was going to go through with this, I needed to ensure that I had control of Kara and, therefore, her unborn child. 

If we postponed the attack until after her blood bond was completed, we could capture her once she was already with the child. I could bring my brother back without fear of negative recourse. Were my thoughts diabolical, as Beta Morgana had put it? I didn't think so. They were completely and utterly selfish, absolutely, but not evil. 

With Darius back to full strength and by my side, we wouldn't have an issue attacking them later. I just needed to figure out what I was going to tell my followers. After all, we had been preparing for more than two weeks now, and if I couldn't convince them, all was lost. I knew what I wanted, and I had a plan. Now, I just had to bring myself to dial the number. 

This killed two birds with one stone. I got my brother back, and we would rid ourselves of the abomination of a child that would be brought into this world that had a fifty percent chance of being spawned despite our efforts during the battle we'd prepared for. I walked around for a while longer, solidifying my decision.

I had made my way out of the woods and back to the road where I had been last evening. I looked around to make sure no one was nearby, pulled my cell phone from my pocket, and peered at it for several minutes. I waited for a sign telling me to put aside my selfish desires and forgo my newly acquired plan, but none came.

I dialed the number once again and held the phone up to my ear. It rang several times, and I was worried that I had missed my timeline when they didn't answer immediately. I pulled my phone back to see the time, and I still had another hour. I put the phone back to my ear and heard a familiar voice.

The same younger female finally answered the phone. Her heavy Cajun accent said, "Bonjour. Thank vous pour calling Circe's Conjuring." She had said the same thing word for word last time, so it must have been the standard script. I replied, "I need to speak with Circe again, please."

This time, instead of denying me the privilege, she said, "Hold sur on second." I waited patiently for her to connect us. Circe spoke as soon as she joined the call, "Ulfric Draven, I wasn't expecting to hear from you." I said, "Circe, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." She replied, "That's quite all right. I take it that you have accepted my price."

I inhaled deeply, "Yes, I had to devise a plan to make the conditions work in my favor, but I accept the terms." She replied, "Very well then, do you wish that I come to you in Michigan, or would you prefer to bring your brother down here?" I would have asked how she knew I was in Michigan, but she knew my name prior to me giving it, and about my brother's condition, it was fair to say that she had more answers than I had questions. 

I asked, "What is more convenient for you?" She cackled, "You bring him to me, obviously." I added, "How soon can I deliver him?" She said, "Time is of the essence, no?" I replied, "Yes, it is." She said, "Then you'd better hurry up." I nodded to myself, "What address do I need to bring him to?"

She cackled again, "Ah, child, these things are not done inside. We will be out in nature; there is no address for that. Bring him to my shop in New Orleans. We will take him from there." I replied, "Of course, I will book him a flight tomorrow." I heard the phone click; Circe had finished her conversation with me. 

I returned my phone to my pocket and returned to the pack house; I needed to speak to Beta Morgana and my pack's healer to see if they would accompany him. I knew my healer would go regardless, but Beta Morgana was still performing her duties for Alpha Gray and his pack, so I would understand if she had to remain here.

Upon my return, I found Beta Morgana first and asked, "Can we speak in your office?" She nodded and held up her pointer finger. I took the signal and went ahead upstairs; she would be up momentarily. I prepared myself to tell her that the deal was done, and ask that she accompany her mate to New Orleans. Once he was restored, they could meet up with us in North Carolina.